The
Keys of
Dad and God Volume 151, Number 10
St. Peter’s
| June, 2015
No matter who you are or where you are on your spiritual journey, you are welcome here!
The Corner Office God and dad. Shelves in theological libraries are devoted to the difficulties of imagining God as dad, and psychology shelves bulge with books speaking about the problems created when dad becomes God. But the phrase Father, Son and Holy Spirit rings through our souls and that is who God is for most of us. God is male, a loving father, which would be lovely indeed if all dads were loving, but they aren’t. And most dads ultimately can’t live up to a God-like image even if they are perfectly swell. Though most people seem fairly comfortable with the idea of a God who is neither male nor female, the struggle then becomes how to put some form to God. We are made in God’s image, but what’s the image? Maybe God is a combination of male and female but my imagination, awash in Western culture, tends to go to strange places with this thought. So, instead of focusing on images of God, I think on a grander scale. I think, universe, dark matter, David Austin roses or Father Brown mysteries—you get the idea. I remember that my idea of God is too small. I am made in God’s image, but that doesn’t mean God is exactly like me; God doesn’t think or act or live like me. To try to open this idea up for the people I serve, I decided long ago to begin use a neutral gender for God or when that wasn’t possible to use both male and female pronouns. When the moment came for me to pronounce my first blessing—ever—I was standing next to Bishop Swing in Grace Cathedral. I had just assisted at the altar with him, at my ordination to the priesthood and had been given the grace to pronounce the final blessing. And when I got to the pronoun for God, I took a deep breath and said she. I was not struck by lightning or a loose tile, nor did the Bishop hit me with his miter. We all just went on like normal. One or two people said they loved it. It is my way of calling attention to how our imagination limits who God is and what God can do with us and for us. To grow into a fuller understanding of God means we are called to use language that acknowledges God is more than one anthropomorphic vision. God as “Creator, Redeemer, Continued on Page 2…
The Deacon’s Beacon And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. —Matthew 23:9 As a member of the clergy, I have always been intrigued by this passage. So many male priests (and a number of deacons as well) insist on being called “father” and in this passage Jesus says that is a no-no. We can be thankful that we have a female priest because Jesus apparently had no problem calling someone “mother.” In fact, this passage is not so much about using an honorific as a sign of respect for someone but about having the egotistical need to require someone to address you by your title. If you look at the context in which this passage occurs, you see that Jesus is talking about being a
servant to others and being humble. He has no problem with our addressing someone as “father” as a sign of respect. Rather he has a problem with those who insist on being addressed with respect because they see themselves as superior to others. Sadly, not only have I encountered this issue with members of the clergy but more significantly in my career in Silicon Continued on Page 2…
Corner Office, continued…
The Halo Award
and Sanctifier” doesn't roll off the tongue, so maybe we are still searching. But libraries and bookstores explode with books that tell of the infinite wisdom and creativity of God and people working together to make something new. My dad was in D-Day. And he was at the Remagen Bridge. At 19. The enlistment papers we have say he weighed about 140 pounds and stood a whole 5’ 5”. I still have his uniform, and it would fit me rather well. I tell you this and describe him this way, because later in life he was not an easy person to be with or to get to know. It was hard to find God in him much of the time. But. After all he’d seen, and though it irreparably broke him, he believed in God. And he would be very proud of me. —Susan +
We wish that people who do great works in this life were always given the recognition and rewards they deserve. Unfortunately, it seems that’s less and less often the case. Sometimes it almost feels that if you do a wonderful deed the world will beat a path away from your door. But not at St. Peter’s! No sir. Our congregation is slow to chide and quick to bless. This month we’re delighted to honor a parishioner who works hard, contributes lavishly, and does it all quietly and effectively. Barbara Naas, you’ve earned a 14 karat gold halo for your tireless efforts behind the scenes. Where would the Altar Guild be without you?
Deacon’s Beacon, continued… career. Most of them failed and none of them made it big. Looking back, I thank God that it turned out that way because I am sure that I would not have been able to handle the success and I would be far less happy than I am today. God blesses us in many ways. —Deacon Skip
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And more to the point—how in the world could we have Sunday services if you didn’t ensure that everything was shipshape and proper? Congratulations and thanks, Barbara. We’re grateful for all your efforts. Wear your halo with pride!
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Do the Right Thing My father, Anthony Schenone, joined the U.S. Navy’s V12 program in 1943 when he was 18 years old and a senior at St. James High School in San Francisco. The V-12 program was created to increase the number of commissioned officers during World War II. Young men like my father attended three semesters of college where they completed a degree in their chosen field (but in areas most needed by the Navy), attended Navy classes and underwent rigorous physical training. Although it was an accelerated program, according to Wikipedia the U.S. Navy wanted to ensure that participants had the benefit of “faculty counseling, of extracurricular activities —in short, the best undergraduate education the colleges can offer.” The V-12 program also helped refill U.S. colleges and universities that had been depleted of students when the U.S. entered the war. Warren Christopher and Robert F. Kennedy were among the 125,000 individuals who took part in the V-12 program. My father was commissioned as a Navy lieutenant (junior grade) and was en route to the Pacific when the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6th, 1945. After the second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki on August 9th, Japan surrendered unconditionally. My father was on an LST, a big landing craft for soldiers and tanks. At some point his ship was repurposed to transport Japanese prisoners of war back to Japan as part of the mass repatriation operation that took place between October 1945 and December 1946. During this time by father’s ship was anchored off a Pacific island along with a few other U.S. naval ships. The island was occupied by U.S. troops and their latrines were positioned on the edge of the dock and emptied into the island’s pristine waters. The ships’ officers met and decided that something had to be done. The plan they came up with was to aim one of the ships towards shore such that it would accidentally miss its docking and knock the latrines into the ocean, ending their foul presence. The question was: whose ship would be the one to hit the dock? The officers gathered around to draw straws… and guess whose dad chose the short straw? You might say my father was a hero. Or you might say he was an eco-terrorist. Or you could say he was simply doing the right thing, because that’s what good fathers do. They do the right thing. June, 2015
Good fathers model fairness and just behavior. There were five of us: four girls and one pipsqueak brother who teased us mercilessly and got away with everything. Dad spent many mornings stopping squabbles before the school commute. He would separate us and implore us to love each other—jeez. But good fathers are much more. They provide during strong and weak economies. They coach their kids’ sports teams. My dad was a Little League coach for my brother’s team and a Bobby Sox League coach for my youngest sister’s team. They support their wives’ careers and vocations. I remember my dad getting home in time so my mom could get to class and complete her undergraduate and then master’s degrees in English Literature at San Jose State University. My father’s actions showed me that he cared deeply about my mother’s career and higher education for his children. Good fathers take pride in their kids’ accomplishments. My dad practiced with me early in the mornings when I was preparing for the school wide spelling bee. I had won the fourth-grade bee and was now up against fifth and sixth graders. He would chuckle with pride every time I got a word right. He taught me how to memorize the spelling of perseverance (per…se…ver…ance), the word I won the spelling bee with! It turns out my teacher, Miss De Marlo, had bet the sixth grade teacher that I would beat the sixth grade champ. I am sure money passed hands. Good fathers model mercy and tell their children often that they love them. My father was a good father and a man of moral strength and grace.
At the end of the war my father was on a train in Japan, passing through Nagasaki. He told my younger sisters that he was afraid to get off the train due to residual radiation from the atomic bomb. But it was Christmas Eve and my father never missed mass, let alone a Christmas service. So when he saw a Catholic church near the train station, he got off. He felt ashamed walking into the church wearing his firearm but the Navy required its personnel to carry their weapons at all times. When it came time to offer the sign of peace he turned and saw people with radiation burns and did the right thing, he offered his hand. That my father could experience shame and compassion in a house of God in a city destroyed by an atomic bomb tells me that he was not just a good father, but a good man. —Rebecca Schenone 3
Studying the Church Fathers Since Father’s Day comes in June we thought we’d canvas the congregation to learn more about our parishioners’ dads. We began our research by asking Nick Chen to compare his father to God. “God is older,” said Nick. Nick wasn’t the only member of St. Peter’s who shared an insightful observation about his father. The fact is, when you go around saying to people, “Tell me a story about your father and God,” you get an amazingly wide range of interesting responses, and you learn something new from each one. For example, Laura Ild told us that her father always wore a suit and tie to church and that he was an active chorister—one who inspired the whole family to sing. From now on we’ll think of Laura’s father every time we see her singing in church.
the nearest church on Sunday, a habit he instilled in Jeff’s father, who passed it along to his kids. And maybe that’s why Ben says that he can’t remember a time when church wasn’t part of his life. Every family has its traditions. Sue Mitchell told us that her father came from a long line of Southern Presbyterians, with several ministers in the family. She said those Calvinist Sundays could get awful dull: no dancing, no movies, no fun of any kind… except when there were parties at the church. Deborah Runyeon’s father was a little more demonstrative about his beliefs: he was an active Episcopalian who served on his parish vestry and participated in parish life into his 80s. Deborah grew up back east, and her father was very glad to learn that his daughter joined St. Peter’s after she moved to California. Nancy Oliver’s father was another dad who taught by example. He didn’t talk very much about religion, but he had an inward spirituality that comes through loud and clear in a journal Nancy and her sister found among his papers after he died.
Becky Schenone said that her father was “a man of grace whose faith was unshakeable.” She added that the first lesson her father taught his kids was that God is love. In his youth in South San Francisco her father was a devout altar boy, and he spent rapt hours listening to the monsignor’s stories about exorcisms. Becky’s father was a man who left no privy unturned—as you may have learned in her article on page 3.
Nancy’s father worked in a mine to put himself through college. In one journal entry he described going up a “raise” in the mine, a 150-foot vertical shaft that he had to climb by himself on a narrow ladder in the dark. It was a job featuring at least half a dozen different ways to be killed. He wrote…
Trish Reilly Taylor, who also comes from a Roman Catholic family, told us that her father never had a bad word to say about anyone. Trish said that her father wasn’t outwardly religious, but that he quietly “walked the walk.” Two of his brothers became priests, so her father’s spirituality wasn’t exactly shocking.
“Alone. Does everyone know what it means to be alone? And with a fearful dread of something about to happen which somehow never does happen? I have been alone. I don’t mean away by myself somewhere or some place but I mean alone. And yet I am never alone. There is some force or drive that keeps me going to say, ‘Jack, get up and go.’”
Like Trish, a number of parishioners said their fathers were inwardly spiritual without being showy about it. It seems that teaching important lessons by example is just one of those things that fathers do.
There’s probably no place in the world more lonely than the top of a vertical mine shaft that you’ve climbed up by yourself in the pitch black. Nancy’s father never talked about this experience directly, but the presence he felt in the dark was obviously something that affected him profoundly… and was something he was able to communicate to his daughters without using the words he committed privately to his journal.
That was the case with Dianne Brien’s father. She said her father never talked about religion—instead of preaching, he practiced. In Dianne’s family, churchgoing was simply part of the routine. Angelo Castellucci said his father also had a well-established routine—he went to church once a year at Christmas. Jeff Redlawsk’s father and brother visited town recently, and we discovered that the Redlawsk family has a multigenerational routine of regular churchgoing—and at least four generations of Redlawsks learned their habits by paternal example. Jeff’s grandfather always went to
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You can read the whole memoir on the parish website and we heartily recommend it—it’s a riveting story. See www.stpetersrwc.org/alone . Of course, it occasionally takes more than example to get the lesson across—from time to time a father has to step up and take action. Billy Park told us that he grew up hating Sunday School and that he would sometimes skip class and
The Keys of St. Peter’s
go to the local drugstore to read magazines. After his father caught Billy playing hooky he started a little contest: he’d give Billy a quiz about the Sunday sermon and, as long as Billy passed the quiz he was allowed to miss Sunday School. Billy said the experience gave him a lifelong appreciation for good sermons… and he added that he still pays close attention. Ted Hardie’s stepfather had an unusual avocation: he rang the changes at their local church. This centuries-old tradition isn’t widely practiced in America, and it’s unusual to find someone who not only knows how it’s done but actually does it. There are different changes for different occasions, and one, called “The Nine Tailors,” is rung for funerals. When a parishioner died, Ted’s stepfather would sometimes take young Ted along with him when he went to the church to ring. The unique experience made an impression. Ted told us that there was something very meaningful in the way the peals rang out into the air and then vanished—like a departing spirit.
Website Expansion Continues Work on the church website continues at a rapid clip, and if you haven’t visited in a while you might be surprised at what you find at www.stpetersrwc.org . Here are some recent changes and additions: -This Sunday. See the weekly lectionary… find out who’s a lector, usher, or acolyte… learn whom to thank for coffee hour. And sign up to help out! -The Keys. Read your favorite newsletter online… in living color, too. And at last—back issues are available! -Video. “Conversations on the Journey,” our documentary on the past, present, and future of St. Peter’s church is now online for your viewing pleasure, in whole and parts. -Scrapbooks. Photo galleries of events old and new… expanding rapidly. -Special features. Read up on the summer mission trip… the quilting project… and much more. We’d love to get your feedback… especially if you find a bug or think that something’s missing. We’re looking for contributions, too—send us your favorite photos and links, and all the news you can think of. WWW.STPETERSRWC.ORG
Bake & Book Sale a Sweet Success! Charlene Wieser was sitting at the table while Ted told his story, and Charlene asked, “Who listened to the bells?” “Anyone who could hear, I suppose,” said Ted. “It was the act of ringing that mattered.”
Customers of all ages were delighted with the Bake & Book Sale on May 31… so delighted that the sponsors held an encore on June 7.
The three of us began to talk about the mysteries of things there but not visible. An odd progression of clanging church bells that everyone in earshot heard and few understood, ringing goodbye to someone gone from this world into the next—what an image! We walked home in the shimmering California sunlight thinking about all those small, vital lessons that a father bequeaths, sometimes just by being there—often by acting, not talking, trusting that every lesson will be absorbed, like peals rung into the sky. June, 2015
A joint production of the SPYs and Crafty Ladies, the sale raised almost $500 for the young people’s summer mission trip to Crownpoint, NM. Many thanks to all supporters, and bon appetit! 5
Women’s Retreat Bishop's Ranch outside Healdsburg was the beautiful location for the St. Peter’s Women’s Retreat on May 15, 16, and 17.
Chocolate in its many manifestations was the weekend’s theme. The weekend’s feature film was Chocolat. And there were truffles! And cake!
Including the newest addition to the church family, there were about eight and a half attendees. Fellowship and spirited conversation followed a potluck dinner on Friday night. Reverend Susan led a morning discussion and call to prayer.
Some of the sweets were shared.
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The Keys of St. Peter’s
Bishop's Ranch lent itself to many peaceful meditations.
A simple Eucharist was celebrated out on the deck at sunset.
Individuals had plenty of time for restful contemplation.
June, 2015
窶年eva Hutchinson 7
From the Vestry
Hall for basketball and other indoor recreational activities.
The Vestry’s May meeting was held on Tuesday the 12th, and among the items discussed were roofs and windows, coffee hour, coffee roasting, and a healthy list of other parish business. Treasurer John Lessar presented financial reports complete through April. So far this year the parish is in the black and ahead of budget by more than $8,000 on the bottom line. John explained that some pledges have been received earlier than budgeted. Actual
Budget
Variance
Income Expense
$80,261 77,612
$77,251 83,047
$ 3,009 5,436
Net
$ 2,649
$ -5,796
$ 8,445
Mother Susan reported that we have two baptisms upcoming, along with several confirmations and receptions at Grace Cathedral on June 6. (See below) The next Vestry meeting was scheduled for June 9, 2015. The Vestry wants to hear from you. Questions and concerns can be directed to any Vestry member.
Confirmed! Congratulations to the Class of 2015—graduates of this year’s confirmation classes! In a ceremony at Grace Cathedral on Saturday, June 6, five parishioners were confirmed and one was received.
The roof of the apartment building is leaking and two estimates for repairs were received. The Vestry voted to accept the lower of the two, from Carlos Palafox. Next on the list of parish repairs is sanding, painting, and refurbishing of office and classroom window frames. A prospective music director, Jina Han, received a positive response from the choir on her first visit in April, and was invited for a second visit on May 24. Since then Jina has accepted our offer of employment. There was extended discussion about coffee hour, a ministry that many parishioners enjoy but few support. Among the options reviewed was the possibility of paying someone a small stipend to handle the logistics. No conclusions were reached. Our newest tenant is a coffee roaster, who will use space in our kitchen to roast beans from time to time. He has obtained all necessary permissions from the City and will start a trial run shortly. He has agreed to contribute coffee to the church as part of his rent. On at least one recent occasion transients seem to have camped behind the apartment building, and the Vestry agreed that we should post “No Trespassing” signs. The SPY summer mission trip is on track, with nine kids and three adults expected. As noted on page 5, the SPYs and Crafty Ladies held a Bake & Book Sale fundraiser on May 31. The Vestry agreed to invite Billy Park to the June meeting for further discussion of his proposal to outfit the Parish
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Confirmed: -Lesly Paola Brumleve Duke, -Marco Antonio Brumleve Duke -Megan Goulden -Alexandra Reed Siri -Carolyn Olivia Ann Siri Received: -Trish Reilly Taylor Four great kids… two great grown-ups… one great moment for St. Peter’s!
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The Tees of St. Peter’s It’s T time at St. Peter’s! This summer’s sportswear rage is the St. Peter’s T-shirt—new, colorful, and the hit of the season. Available in a wide range of sizes, this fine T-shirt isn’t just a fashion statement—it’s a fashion statement that helps your parish. When your friends see your new St. Peter’s T-shirt they’re sure to want one too. Tell ’em where to shop… and tell ’em where to worship! For a limited time, a new St. Peter’s T-shirt can be yours for a mere $15. Buy one for everybody in the family!
Kid Stuff School’s out… summer’s here… and everybody’s talking about the SPY summer mission trip to Crownpoint, NM, where the kids from St. Peter’s will use their construction skills to help people in need in the Navajo Nation. The trip will be held from August 2 through 9. Our SPYs will join other volunteers upgrading a home with new floors, drywall, and paint—dirty work in hot weather, but guaranteed to make a big difference in one family’s life. Of the 2,729 residents living in Crownpoint, 38 percent live in homes without electricity or running water. The median per capita income is $10,303 per year. A project like this takes a big commitment from everyone involved: kids, parents, clergy, and the whole congregation. That’s why your support is so important… and so appreciated. If you haven’t contributed yet, surf on over to WWW.GOFUNDME.COM/STPETERSNAVAJOTRIP
and see how easy it is to help. One click and the deed is done! Our SPYs—and a family you’ve never met—will be deeply grateful!
To order, send an e-mail to office@stpetersrwc.org or call the church office at 650 367-0777. Be sure to tell us quantities and sizes. Adults: S, M, L, XL. Children: S, M, L. Send no money now! Payment is due on delivery. But act quickly—we’ll place the order soon. Shirts will be available approximately July 1.
Noted in Brief LEMs. On June 20th at 11 am, and on July 11th at 11 am, there will be Eucharistic Minister training at St. Peter’s for interested people. This is not the official Diocesan training. It will, however, give you tools you need to begin to assist at the altar at St. Peter’s until the training is offered by the Diocese. Atherton Court. Mark your calendar for the Atherton Court BBQ on Saturday, June 27th!
Word of the Month Polyandry (Pol-ee-an-dree) n. The practice or state of having more than one husband at a time. Compare to polygamy: the practice of having more than one wife.
June, 2015
Hope Bags. There’s a new batch of Hope Bags in the back of the church, thanks to the Godly Play kids and Cari Chen. Take a couple! Speaking of which… You’ll also find a box in the back of the church where you can help Godly Play by donating supplies. Your support lets us make more bags as needed.
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Mark the Date!
Rites of Passage
A few items for your calendar…
June Birthdays
-Thursday, June 18: Crafty Ladies at 11:00 am
Beth Sharpe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
June 1
-Saturday, June 20: Eucharistic ministry training at 11:00 am
Elaina Harr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
June 3
-Thursday, June 25: Crafty Ladies at 11:00 am
Nicholas Chen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
June 3
-Thursday, July 2: Crafty Ladies at 11:00 am
Arlene Sullivan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
June 12
-Thursday, July 9: Crafty Ladies at 11:00 am
Shannon Yonker . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .
June 16
-Saturday, July 11: Eucharistic ministry training at 11:00 am
Mark Wieser. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
June 19
Tuesday, July 14: Vestry meeting at 7:00 pm
Eric Rollin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
June 19
-Thursday, July 16: Crafty Ladies at 11:00 am
Ryan Essenburg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
June 22
Betty Fahy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
June 22
Gloria Colon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
June 23
Christian Woo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
June 27
Hannah Essenburg . . . . . . . . . . . . .
June 29
Julie McKean. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
June 30
In Memoriam We’re saddened to note the passing of long-time friend and fellow parishioner Jim McCarty, on Saturday, June 6. At the end his wife Pat was by his side reading psalms to him, and Jim had a sparkle in his eye to the very last. Pat appreciates the cards, notes, dinners, prayers, and love Jim’s fellow parishioners have sent. The people of St. Peter's will miss Jim. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
To Our Subscribers Do you know anyone who might like to receive the Keys? Name names, and send them to the office! Are you an out-of-town reader? Tell us what’s new in your life. And if you enjoy the Keys, keep in mind that your support of St. Peter’s makes our efforts (and a whole lot more) possible. Customer Service: office@stpetersrwc.org
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June Anniversaries Bob and Holly Bendz. . . . . . . . . . .
June 4
Cynthia and Michael Sholes. . . . . .
June 22
Gene and Heather Hoffman. . . . . .
June 26
Mona Dena and Jeff Redlawsk. . . .
June 29
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Get Involved! Parish governance. Priest’s Warden Rebecca Schenone. rschenone@sbcglobal.net LEMs, acolytes, and lectors. Contact the church office. Godly Play (Sunday School). Cari Pang Chen. caripangchen@gmail.com Altar Guild. Barbara Naas. gladbarb@comcast.net SPY (youth group). Mother Susan. susandparsons@aol.com
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St. Peter’s Episcopal Church 178 Clinton Street Redwood City, CA 94062 WWW.STPETERSRWC.ORG
650 367-0777
Men’s Group. Deacon Skip Bushee. gsbushee@gmail.com Hopkins Manor ministry. Deacon Skip Bushee. gsbushee@gmail.com Maple Street Shelter ministry. Pat McCarty. Pat_mccarty@sbcglobal.net Ushers. Erik Chen. runforyourlives@gmail.com Crafty Ladies. Midge Bobel. 650 364-0195 Atherton Court Ministry. Billy Park. addawg@mac.com
The Right Reverend Marc Andrus The Diocese of California Clergy and Lay Staff The Reverend Susan D. Parsons, Rector The Reverend Skip Bushee, Deacon Ms. Jina Han, Music Director Ms. Siobhan Taylor, Parish Administrator Officers of St. Peter’s Ms. Rebecca Schenone, Priest’s Warden Ms. Megan Goulden, Junior Warden Mr. John Lessar, Treasurer Mr. Peter Hutchinson, Clerk of the Vestry Vestry Ms. Megan Goulden Mr. Peter Hutchinson Ms. Susan Mitchell Mr. John Nieman Mr. Jim Redman Ms. Trish Reilly Taylor Ms. Rebecca Schenone
Published monthly for the friends of St. Peter’s Church
July issue deadline: July 1
June, 2015
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St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
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In this issue… • Dad and God! • Confirmations! • Women’s Retreat!
• Summer mission … and more!